A row between prison officers and prison service management over safety and security concerns at Cloverhill Prison has been settled.
Prison officers at Cloverhill had voted in a ballot for industrial action in an attempt to secure improved security measures.
The Irish Times understands that the issue related to concerns raised by some officers who felt under threat from specific prisoners.
In a statement yesterday the Prison Officers' Association (POA) said that following several exchanges of correspondence with prison service management the serious safety issues relating to staff at Cloverhill Prison had now been addressed.
The settlement was reached as the POA prepared for an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss the ballot for industrial action at Cloverhill.
"The national executive council of the POA has decided to recommend acceptance of a written proposal from management in regard to safety of staff - a proposal which finally responds to and addresses POA concerns, outlined in earlier correspondence.
"The POA hold a strong view that this issue should not have reached the crisis point it did," the statement said.
It said the association was disappointed that it was not possible to resolve "this crucial staff safety matter at local level, especially as the solution proposed by the POA involved no extra costs".